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From mabati house to national figure: Pauline Njoroge reflects on 20-year career journey
16th February, 2026 10:46 PM
Jubilee Party politician Pauline Njoroge has shared a deeply personal reflection on her 20-year journey from humble beginnings in the village to participating in high-level global forums.
In a statement on Monday, February 16, 2026, Njoroge recounted leaving her rural home two decades ago with a torn green bag, determined to seek better opportunities in Nairobi because she believed there was no future for her in the village.
She revealed that her early days in the city were marked by hardship, sharing a mattress with her cousin in a mabati house in Uthiru and navigating the anxiety of using poorly maintained shared toilets.
Despite the struggles, she says she carried a quiet determination that her life had to change.
Njoroge recalled boldly walking to Karbanet Gardens to ask to see former President Daniel arap Moi, convinced that if she could just speak to him, he would help fund her university education.
“I remember walking to Karbanet Gardens and telling the GSU officers at the gate that I wanted to see former President Moi, convinced that if only I could speak to him, he would support my university education. Of course, it wasn’t that simple. But the audacity to try? That has always been me. And I did meet him much later. Story for another day,” she stated.
Further, she revealed that she was evicted from a hostel in Ngara for unpaid fees.
Her breakthrough came after she began sharing her thoughts on governance and politics on Facebook.
What started as amateur writing gradually built a strong online presence.
After boldly reaching out to politician Peter Kenneth with a proposal on how she could add value to his campaign through social media, he called her the following day, a conversation she says changed her life. She went on to work on his campaign.
“A few months later, the TNA Party leadership reached out because of my growing social media presence. I initially resisted. But they were persistent and eventually, I accepted the role of communication manager.”
Though she experienced another period of uncertainty after the campaign, she later secured a position at NEPAD Kenya, which opened doors to continental engagements under the African Union framework and to global missions with the Presidency.
She has since participated in high-level forums, including the UN General Assembly, the Belt and Road Forum, and the G7—all while balancing work, travel and her studies.
Njoroge earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media and Communication, followed by a Master’s degree in International Studies.
Reflecting on her journey, the self-described village girl from Githiga says the road has been long but transformative.
“No one promised it would be easy. But some journeys must be walked, no matter how steep the climb.”
